Spark-timing device for explosive-engines.



E. A. COOPER.

SPARK TIMING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION .E'ILED MAR. 25, 1907.

976,345.. Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

I 7 4 \l W @wW y M8 {raw/gas inafter described and .outin the claims.

tail sectional view illustrating preferably of a base a in each'shell 6 and adapted to 'vent rotary displacement of UNITED sTATEs Parents OFFICE.

EUGENE A. COOPER,

01F BRI'IZLON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SPARK-TIMING- DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

To all whom 'it may concern."

Be it known that I, EUGENE A. COOPER, of Britton," Marshall county, South. Dakota, have invented ,certain new and useful linplrovements in Spark-Timing Devices, for

xplosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

- The object of this invention is to provide timing device of simple inexpensive construction by means of which the time of spark generation in a cylinder can be advn'ncedor retarded, and a'further object is to provide a timer that will be positive and reliable in its action and very durable.

The invention consists generally in a revolving tongue or blade and contacting surfaces in circuit witha spark in and ar ranged to engageboth sides 0 said tongue simultaneously.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as here- In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view of the spark timing device with one section removed, showing, the position of the electrodes and the contact tongue therein. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device taken on a section line substantially at right angles to the section line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the tongue showing the shape of the same and its thin edges. Fig. 4 is a dea modification in the construction of the electrodes. Fig. 5 is a detail View showing the timing device with a modified form of electrode. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the electrode shown in Fig. 5. 1

In the drawing, 2 represents a shaft geared to some moving part of the engine in the usual way. I I

3 is a stub shaft secured to the shaft 2v and on which the shell or device is mounted. This casing consists and a cover 5.

'6 represents a seriesof shells extending through the base and cover and having a flange 7 at one end to bear on said base and substantially flush with the surface of the cover at the other end. A pin 'Zis provided slip into a socket 7" in the wall ofthe base and prethe shell. Plugs 8 have threaded ends fitting within the correspondingly threaded ends of the thereon.

particularly pointed electrodes casing of the timing Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, :32, 1914}, Application filed March 25, 1907. Serial No. 364,457.

shell 6 and flanges 9 are provided on these plugs, which lap by the ends of the shells a sufiiolent distance to hold the cover in place No other securing means is therefore necessary. The plugs have binding nuts 10 at their outer ends and sockets 11 at their inner ends adapted to receive springs 12 and bearing balls 13. Similar are provided in sockets 15 formed in the shells (3 and hearingballs l6 normally held toward the balls 18 by the pressure of the springs 14. Slots. 17 are provided in the walls of the shell 6 at right angles substantially to the socket l5 and opposite the point of contact between the bearing balls, or electrodes as I prefer to designate them.

The base plate of insulating material such as fiber, wood or hard rubber, and the primary circuit will normally be broken at this point, as is usual in devices of this kind.

The shaft 3 has a ring or collar 18 therein provided with a socket 19, and a tongue 20 is secured within said socket by a pivot pin 21. This tongue has knife edges on each side and between said edges is provided with broad substantially fiat bearing surfaces. vVhen the shaft 3 is revolved the tongue will pass between the bearing balls and press them apart and the tongue being also 1 in the primary circuit in the usual way, said circuit Wlll be closed at and during the time of passage of the tongue between the balls of each pair of electrodes. The pivotal connection of the tongue with its support will allow it to rock and accommodate itself to any unevenness of adjustment of the balls and insure perfect contact thereof on each side Without jar or shock. The tongues have knife edges adapted to slip between the andvforce them apart closing the circuit and causing the vibrator on the induction .coil to produce a spark or series of sparks.

By rotating the supporting plate and its cover on the shaft 3the relative position of the electrodes and tongue may be changed and the time of spark generation advanced or retarded.

In Fig. l I have shown a slight modifica tion in the construction of the electrodes which consists in providing a cap 22 between the bearing ball 16 andthe spring 14-, and instead of having a yieldingly mounted ball in the plug I provide a fixed pin 23 having a rounded end to contact with the springs 14 and cover are composed V ball 16. Whenthe' circuit closing tongue passes between these electrodes one of them obviously will remain stationary while the other will be forced into its socket against the tension of its spring.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown another construction which consists in a shell 2 having an annular flange 25 in which supports 26 for the electrodes are mounted. These supports have a centrally arranged slot 27 and slots 28 on each side and parallel with the center slot. Holes 29 are formed in the walls of the center slot and adapted to receive bearing balls 30 which fit within said holes and are pressed toward one another by fiat springs 31 arranged'in the slots 28. A hole 32 allows the insertion of one of the balls into its seat after the first one has been put in place. The circuit clos ing tongue is substantially the same as the one described and is adapted to sweep through the slot 27, engage the balls 30 and separate them against the tension of their springs and temporarily close the primary circuit. A suitable cover, not shown, will be employed to conceal the tongue and the electrodes of the modification shown in Fig. 5. This device may also be rotated to change the time of formation of the spark.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spark timing device comprising a shaft, a ring secured thereon, and having a socket in its periphery, a tongue pivoted at one end in said socket and decreasing in thickness from its longitudinal center toward each edge and adapted to rock on its pivot pin and electrodes inelosing said shaft and etween which said tongue is ada ted to sweep by the revolution of said shaft.

2. The combination, with a casing, of a shell fitting therein and having a socket, a spring provided in said socket, an anti-friction ball fitting within said socket and engaging said spring, said shell having a slot extending therethrough substantially at right angles to said socket, a plug fitting Within said shell on the opposite side of I said slot from said ball, a second ball can ried by said plug, a spring yieldingly holding said second ball, and a tongue arranged to sweep between said balls and having a rolling contact with both of them.

3. A spark timing device eomprisinp a base having a recess, a shaft fitting witiin said base and revolving therein, a tongue carried b said shaft, a cover fitting on said base, shells having flanged ends extending through said base and covcr,plug's fitting within sockets in said shells and also having flanges to bear on said cover, whereby said base and cover will be held together, antifriction bearin balls mounted in said shells, and plugs, an between which said tongue is adapted to pass during the revolution of said shaft.

44A spark timing device comprising a EUGENE A. COOPER. Witnesses RICHARD PAUL. J B. EVA. 

